Regular Season Rules 1.) You MUST be age 36 or older to pitch 2.) A continuous batting order and set lineup will be used. The batting order picks up in the next game where it ended in the previous game. In playoff games the batting order will be continuous but need not pick up where it left off the previous game. 3.) All players must wear a helmet at bat and on the bases. Catchers cannot wear shin guards when batting. Catchers must wear a helmet when catching. 4.) The last player to make out is the pinch runner for the catcher and pitcher (48+ only) with 2 outs and in all other pinch running situations. 5.) The offensive team's inning will end after 3 outs have been made or 4 runs have been scored, whichever comes first. This rule is waived after the 6th inning in scheduled 9 inning games, and after the 5th inning in scheduled 7 games. An out of the park home run scores all runs above 4. 6.) A pitcher shall be removed and may not return to the game as a pitcher if he hits 2 batters during his time on the mound. 7.) A pitcher must be removed if he walks 4 batters or hits 2 batters, or a combination thereof, in any one inning. 8.) No pitcher may pitch more than 5 innings in a scheduled 9 inning game and no more than 4 innings in a scheduled 7 inning game. Any appearance constitutes an inning. 9.) All players rotate defensively with the intention of all players having equal playing time during each game. 10.) No malicious or unsportsmanlike conduct will be permitted. A fielder cannot block any portion of a base/plate with or without possession of the ball. The umpire will call obstruction and award the offended runner the base where the contact took place and additional bases as he deems necessary. The runner should make every attempt to avoid physical contact with a fielder. A runner will be declared out if he initiates contact with the catcher or any other fielder in an attempt to dislodge the ball. The runner's actions may also result in other runners being called out. If the conduct of the runner or the fielder is deemed intentional, malicious or unsportsmanlike by the umpire, the player will be immediately ejected from the game. 11.) A fielder is not permitted to fake a tag on an incoming runner. The fielder must be in possession of the ball when making a tag. Violation of this rule will result in all runners, including the batter runner, being awarded an additional base. 12.) ONLY players are permitted in the team dugout or on the bench. NO children, wives, friends, dogs, etc. 13.) If an offensive player is injured during play he may have a pinch runner; last player to make out. However, he will not play the next defensive inning. If a defensive player is injured during play he may be replaced but will not bat in his team's next offensive inning. Injured players coming to bat must run the bases or be declared out. All players must bat, but may, in their sole discretion, not play the field. An out will be declared each time a player does not bat. 14.) During playoffs a team forfeits if it has less than eight (8) players. If it has only 8, it plays with 8, and an out will be declared each time the 9th batting spot come about. During the regular season there are no forfeits. Teams who have less than 9 players will borrow players from the opposing team for defense only or as permanent players. Offensively the opposing team's bench bats in all vacant lineup slots. 15.) NO PLAYER MAY PLAY WITHOUT THE OFFICIAL PONCE DE LEON LEAGUE UNIFORM – they are available here. http://webstore.poncedeleonbaseball.com/ 16.) A player ejected from a regular season or playoff game will be suspended for his team's next played game. If this happens twice in a season, the player will be suspended for the season. 17.) No intentional walks are permitted. 18.) In Ponce, if there is a runner, or runners, it is a balk when the pitcher stands anywhere on the dirt circle of the mound without the ball, and an attempt is made to tag a runner out via the infamous hidden ball trick. 19.) All other rules if not specifically stated above will follow professional baseball rules and regulations. Play-Off Rules 1.) All games (except Championship games) will be 7 innings. - 4 inning pitching rule in effect. - 4 run rule through 5th inning, 6 and 7 unlimited - no new inning after 2:45 and drop dead at 3 hours unless tied. - Championship game for each division will be 9 innings. - 5 inning pitching rule in effect. - 4 run rule through 6th inning, 7, 8 and 9 unlimited no new inning after 2:45 and drop dead at 3 hours unless tied. 2.) A team must have a minimum of 8 players from their own team to play the game - otherwise the game is forfeited and no game will be played. If you only have 8 players, you play with 8, no borrowing of players from any other team. An out will be recorded for the 9th missing batter each time his turn is reached in the batting order. 3.) The second team and/or game is the home team. Bring both jerseys! 4.) In the event of rain, you will be notified of when and where your next game will be scheduled. Make up games are posted on this website as soon as they have been scheduled. 5.) A new line-up may be drawn up for the play-off games.

Regular Season Rules

1.) You MUST be age 36 or older to pitch

2.) A continuous batting order and set lineup will be used. The batting order picks up in the next game where it ended in the previous game. In playoff games the batting order will be continuous but need not pick up where it left off the previous game.

3.) All players must wear a helmet at bat and on the bases. Catchers cannot wear shin guards when batting. Catchers must wear a helmet when catching.

4.) The last player to make out is the pinch runner for the catcher and pitcher (48+ only) with 2 outs and in all other pinch running situations.

5.) The offensive team's inning will end after 3 outs have been made or 4 runs have been scored, whichever comes first. This rule is waived after the 6th inning in scheduled 9 inning games, and after the 5th inning in scheduled 7 games. An out of the park home run scores all runs above 4.

6.) A pitcher shall be removed and may not return to the game as a pitcher if he hits 2 batters during his time on the mound.

7.) A pitcher must be removed if he walks 4 batters or hits 2 batters, or a combination thereof, in any one inning.

8.) No pitcher may pitch more than 5 innings in a scheduled 9 inning game and no more than 4 innings in a scheduled 7 inning game. Any appearance constitutes an inning.

9.) All players rotate defensively with the intention of all players having equal playing time during each game.

10.) No malicious or unsportsmanlike conduct will be permitted. A fielder cannot block any portion of a base/plate with or without possession of the ball. The umpire will call obstruction and award the offended runner the base where the contact took place and additional bases as he deems necessary. The runner should make every attempt to avoid physical contact with a fielder. A runner will be declared out if he initiates contact with the catcher or any other fielder in an attempt to dislodge the ball. The runner's actions may also result in other runners being called out. If the conduct of the runner or the fielder is deemed intentional, malicious or unsportsmanlike by the umpire, the player will be immediately ejected from the game.

11.) A fielder is not permitted to fake a tag on an incoming runner. The fielder must be in possession of the ball when making a tag. Violation of this rule will result in all runners, including the batter runner, being awarded an additional base.

12.) ONLY players are permitted in the team dugout or on the bench. NO children, wives, friends, dogs, etc.

13.) If an offensive player is injured during play he may have a pinch runner; last player to make out. However, he will not play the next defensive inning. If a defensive player is injured during play he may be replaced but will not bat in his team's next offensive inning. Injured players coming to bat must run the bases or be declared out. All players must bat, but may, in their sole discretion, not play the field. An out will be declared each time a player does not bat.

14.) During playoffs a team forfeits if it has less than eight (8) players. If it has only 8, it plays with 8, and an out will be declared each time the 9th batting spot come about. During the regular season there are no forfeits. Teams who have less than 9 players will borrow players from the opposing team for defense only or as permanent players. Offensively the opposing team's bench bats in all vacant lineup slots.

15.) NO PLAYER MAY PLAY WITHOUT THE OFFICIAL PONCE DE LEON LEAGUE UNIFORM – they are available here. http://webstore.poncedeleonbaseball.com/

16.) A player ejected from a regular season or playoff game will be suspended for his team's next played game. If this happens twice in a season, the player will be suspended for the season.

17.) No intentional walks are permitted.

18.) In Ponce, if there is a runner, or runners, it is a balk when the pitcher stands anywhere on the dirt circle of the mound without the ball, and an attempt is made to tag a runner out via the infamous hidden ball trick.

19.) All other rules if not specifically stated above will follow professional baseball rules and regulations.

Play-Off Rules

1.) All games (except Championship games) will be 7 innings.

- 4 inning pitching rule in effect.

- 4 run rule through 5th inning, 6 and 7 unlimited

- no new inning after 2:45 and drop dead at 3 hours unless tied.

- Championship game for each division will be 9 innings.

- 5 inning pitching rule in effect.

- 4 run rule through 6th inning, 7, 8 and 9 unlimited

no new inning after 2:45 and drop dead at 3 hours unless tied.

2.) A team must have a minimum of 8 players from their own team to play

the game - otherwise the game is forfeited and no game will be played.

If you only have 8 players, you play with 8, no borrowing of players from

any other team. An out will be recorded for the 9th missing batter each

time his turn is reached in the batting order.

3.) The second team and/or game is the home team. Bring both jerseys!

4.) In the event of rain, you will be notified of when and where your next game

will be scheduled. Make up games are posted on this website as soon as they have been scheduled.

5.) A new line-up may be drawn up for the play-off games.